PEOPLE in Okehampton are to benefit from thousands of extra NHS dental places.

Over the next year or so, it is expected that 2,000 extra NHS dental places will become available in the town.

They are being made available as a result of a new dentist at the James Hull Associates practice in Okehampton.

This news has been warmly welcomed by town leaders and West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox who have been campaigning for more NHS dental care in the borough.

Manager for dentistry provision in Devon Andrew Harris said: 'It is great news that more people in Okehampton will be able to see an NHS dentist.

'We have been working hard to reach a point where nobody in Devon has to wait for an NHS dentist and the extra 2,000 places will go a long way to achieving this.'

West Devon Borough Cllr Christine Marsh said she felt the dental places would benefit the people of Okehampton and surrounding area very much: 'It's about time Okehampton got something — we've had to wait a long time for this.

'I am looking forward to the spaces coming to the town at long last.'

Mr Cox said he had been campaigning for a long time to get extra dental places in West Devon.

'I had letters, until very recently, from people still finding it hard to locate an NHS practitioner, so I am very pleased that the PCT is going to increase the capacity by 2,000 places,' he said.

Mayor of West Devon Alison Clish-Green said she was a great fan of the NHS but people had been disillusioned in the last few years, particularly because of the lack of dentists.

'Anything that can be done to improve the NHS and dentistry in particular is important because we live in an area where wages are low and house prices are high.'

A statement from James Hull Associates in Okehampton said they were pleased to announce that they are currently working to enhance their surgery facilities, which will incorporate a new state of the art surgery to accommodate the additional NHS dental places available for the Okehampton community.

'A new surgery will be operational in the new year to enhance the comprehensive NHS provision already available to patients in the Okehampton area,' added the statement.

Health minister Ann Keen said: 'Our aim is to ensure that everyone who wants to see an NHS dentist can by March 2011.

'So far, we have invested over £2-billion in NHS dentistry, resulting in more NHS dental practices expanding and opening all the time.'

Patients who would like to know how to join an NHS dental practice can phone the NHS Dental helpline on 0845 002 0034.

Alternatively, they can email their details to [email protected]">[email protected] or write to Devon Dental Helpline, Devon Dental, PO Box 524, Exeter, EX2 8PF, and include a full name, address, date of birth and telephone number for each patient wishing to join the practice.

Patients who have an urgent dental problem and are without a regular dentist can phone the Devon Dental helpline on 0845 002 0034.

Patients who require urgent care outside normal working hours should contact 01392 823682.